New details from the sheriff

This update follows Awaaz Punjab's earlier report of the deputy's death during Tuesday's warrant service near Canton. On Friday the sheriff publicly identified the suspect and revealed the scale of the gunfire for the first time. Read the earlier report

CANTON, Texas — A gunman fired more than 800 rounds at law enforcement during a shootout near Canton that killed a Van Zandt County sheriff's deputy and severely wounded a Canton police officer, Sheriff Kevin Bridger said on Friday, October 23, Focal News reported. NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth reported the same figure from the sheriff's news conference.

Source: NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

Deputies and Canton officers were trying to contact Mi Van Nguyen, 42, at his home south of Canton at about 10:20 p.m. Tuesday while serving two felony arrest warrants, Bridger said. Nguyen opened fire from inside the home with a semiautomatic rifle, fatally wounding Deputy Ahmed 'Adam' Sherifi and severely injuring Officer Chris Watson, the sheriff said.

Source: Focal News (Dallas)

"Think about that. 800 rounds shot at the men and women whose only purpose was to carry out their duties to protect this community," Bridger said at the news conference outside the sheriff's office. He described the shooting as an attack on the safety of Van Zandt County residents and said the incident was isolated, with no continuing threat from the suspect.

Source: Focal News (Dallas)

800+rounds the sheriff says the gunman fired at officers
10:20 p.m.time on Tuesday when officers tried to contact the suspect

Nguyen was later found dead inside the residence from a gunshot wound, and the Texas Rangers are investigating, Bridger said. The sheriff said Nguyen was wanted on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault on a peace officer. He gave no information about a possible motive and did not take questions from reporters.

Source: Focal News (Dallas)

Bridger praised Deputy Brandon Fonteneau, who was with Sherifi and Watson when the shooting began. The sheriff said Fonteneau provided lifesaving care to Watson, returned fire as gunfire continued and helped create an opportunity for other deputies and Texas Department of Public Safety personnel to reach the wounded officer and take him for treatment. Watson remains hospitalized and is recovering, Bridger said.

Source: Focal News (Dallas)

The news conference also honored Sherifi, whose wife, mother and newborn child attended. Bridger described him as a husband, father, son and friend who had devoted his life to public service. Funeral services are scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, at 1 p.m. in Canton, according to the sheriff's office.

Source: Focal News (Dallas)

The department is also grieving a separate tragedy the same night: a house fire in Canton about two hours after the shooting killed four children and their mother, who were the daughter and grandchildren of a Van Zandt County deputy, Bridger said. He said the back-to-back losses have deeply affected the close-knit law enforcement community.

Source: Focal News (Dallas)

What is solid

  • Sheriff Kevin Bridger said on Friday that the suspect fired more than 800 rounds, identified him as Mi Van Nguyen, 42, and said Deputy Ahmed 'Adam' Sherifi was killed and Officer Chris Watson severely wounded while officers served two felony warrants at about 10:20 p.m. Tuesday.
  • Nguyen was found dead inside the home from a gunshot wound, the Texas Rangers are investigating, and Watson remains hospitalized and recovering, the sheriff said.

What is only claimed

  • What prompted the shooting — the sheriff gave no information about a possible motive and took no questions, and investigators have not said whether Nguyen's fatal wound was self-inflicted or caused by officers' return fire.